Quick Take

The federal government’s new five-year offshore drilling plan targets California waters for the first time in four decades, and seabed mining is also gaining federal authorization. In response, Santa Cruz County leaders and Save Our Shores are reviving local strategies that helped block offshore oil development in the 1980s and create the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The effort centers on fortifying the “Blue Wall,” a network of coastal ordinances that restrict onshore facilities needed for offshore drilling or mining. Supporters say updating and expanding these laws statewide is the most powerful tool communities have to protect California’s coast. Katie Thompson and Dan Haifley urge the public to get involved.

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On Nov. 20, the Department of the Interior released its five-year offshore drilling plan (5YP), which targets California waters for the first new oil and gas lease sales in 40 years. 

Presidential executive orders and legislation have also authorized seabed mining for rare earths and precious minerals, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regulating mining in U.S. federal waters from 3 to 200 miles offshore. 

The federal government is moving ahead full speed to start drilling.

That is why we in Santa Cruz County need to fight back. We can reclaim our power by using the ballot box and in the halls of local government. 

We’ll start with the “Blue Wall,” a line of 27 cities and counties up and down the California coast, which chose four decades ago to use local zoning law to deal with onshore facilities, such as pipelines, dewatering plants and storage yards necessary to support offshore oil and seabed mining. 

The California jurisdictions forming the “Blue Wall” against offshore oil drilling and seabed mining. Credit: Save Our Shores

We can do that again. 

Already, Save Our Shores and elected leaders in Santa Cruz County are fighting back.

The first thing we are doing is assisting with the revival of the Outer Continental Shelf Local Government Coordination program, a loose coalition of local cities and counties that burst to life 1980 to fight similar offshore oil development. It resulted in community solidarity, organizing – and ultimately the creation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings has reinvigorated the coalition so coastal California can stand firm and united. 

Second, Save Our Shores will work with the county and the area’s three coastal cities – Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville – to research how we can strengthen language in existing ordinances on offshore drilling and how we can add seabed mining to the ordinances. 

Already, the ordinances prohibit, or require a vote of the people to approve, zoning changes for onshore facilities that support offshore oil and gas development. 

Save Our Shores will work with local governments and community groups up and down the state to update existing ordinances and to add new ones in areas targeted for offshore development in order to fortify the Blue Wall.

This work builds on the 1985-92 campaign by Save Our Shores and the City of Santa Cruz that resulted in the adoption of 26 (Marin County was added in 2020, making the total 27) communities that adopted ordinances. 

The 1985 work centered around a group of forward-thinking folks including then-Santa Cruz City Councilmembers John Laird and Mardi Wormhoudt, County Supervisor Gary Patton and Save Our Shores Chair Kim Tschantz who conceived a strategy that began with the City of Santa Cruz’s Measure A (November 1985). The measure required a public vote on any zoning changes involving onshore facilities for offshore oil. It also directed the city to use its resources to fight offshore oil.

It received 82% of the vote.

Katie Thompson, executive director of Save Our Shores (left) and former Save Our Shores director Dan Haifley. Credit: Bri Mishin; via Dan Haifley

The city hired Save Our Shores, and I (Haifley) then drove up and down the state in my old Ford Pinto to secure the 26 local laws. Thirteen of those communities were sued by the Western States Petroleum Association to overturn those ordinances, but after a long journey through the courts, local governments prevailed.

Now, we need to take action again. 

With diminished public input and environmental review, local action up and down our coast is the best approach to take back our power.

The first step is to comment on the five-year offshore Drilling Plan (5YP), which targets California waters. To do so, look here (docket ID: BOEM-2025-0483). The comment period will last 60 days, having opened Nov. 24.

We can protect our coast with local action. 

Katie Thompson is the director of Save Our Shores. She and her team will work to fortify the Blue Wall.  

Dan Haifley was director of Save Our Shores from 1986 to 1993. He helped erect the Blue Wall.